The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-12-14
FEDERAL LINES OF WIRE
PROVISIONS OF SENATOR Gull
LOMS BILL.

Trunk Lines Which Are to be Con-
structed First and the Cities they
Will Touch-$4,OOO,OO Named as
the Sum to Start With-The Proposed
Tolls.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 13.--The postal tele-
graph bill introduced by Senator Cullom
to-day establishes the United States Postal
Telegraph as the part of the postal system
of the United States, and for the purpose
of inaugurating the system provides that
the following telegraph trunk lines
shall first be constructed One from
Washington, d. c., to Portland, Me- !;
one from Washington to Minneapolis;
one from Neg York to Cleveland;
one from Pittsburg to Topeka, Kan, via
Columbus, Cincinnati, indianapolis, st.
Louis and Kansas City; one from Toledo to
Detroit: one from Washington to Galveston
via Richmond, Charlotte, Columbia, Au-
gusta, Atlanta, Montgomery and New Or
leans; one from Chicago to st. Louis; one
from Chicago to San Francisco and one
from Cheyenne to Denver.
OPENING OFFICES.
Postal telegraph offices are to be opened
at the places named, and at all intermediate
points at which first, second or third class
post offices are established. Branch lines,
it provides, shall be constructed from time
to time as appropriations therefor are made
by Congress, the intention being to connect
it with all cities where the postal free de-
livery system prevails, but no additional
facilities are to be provided in States already
connected with trunk lines until postal
telegraph offices have been established in
every State and Territory. The system is
to be constructed in straight lines as near as
practicable, but regard is to be taken of
cities that will afford the best telegraphic
facilities to the public. Lines are to be con-
structed by the engineer corps of the army
and then transferred to the custody of the
Postmaster General.
GOOD MATERIAL.
The poles are to be of iron, the wires of
copper and all other materials of the best
character, eight wires are to be strung on
the line from New York to Chicago, and
four upon the other lines. The Secretary
of War is authorized to use the military
service lines of the United States as far as
expedlent, and also to make all necessary
condemnations of lands or buildings at
fair compensation. All disputes as to what
is fair compensation are to be
settled by the Court of Claims.
The Secretary is further authorized to
construct, take and use all machinery and
devices, not including telegraph lines,
whether patented or not, as shall be deemed
necessa ry, the compensation to be deter
mined in the same manner as the cOndem-
nations of land. The sums of moneys nee
essary for this purpose are appropriated by
the bill.
CHEAP TOLLS.
The rate of 1Oc for each twenty words,
and Sc. for each additional ten words is fixed
for distances under 500 miles, and an addi-
tional rate of DC. for each $50 miles over
500. A night rate of 25c. and day rate of
75c. is fixed for each 100 words transmitted
for newspapers, except that where the same
dispatch is dropped at more than one Office,
the ratio shall be 25c. and SOC. respectively
The Office of Director General of
Telegraphs is created as part of
the Post Office Department 1t is
made the duty of the Postmaster General
to report to Congress, after the passage of
the act, a plan for complete organization of
the postal telegraph system, with detailed
estimates of the men and money needed.
Before the system is put into operation and
the employees selected, examinations are to
be held by the Civil Service Commission to
determine the fitness of the applicants.
Four million dollars is appropriated for the
location and construction of the telegraph
lines provided for by the act.
The introduction of half dozen bills on
the subject, including one by Mr.. Edmunds,
and the struggle as to whether a special
committee shall consider them or the Com
mittee on the Post Office, indicates the
interest taken by the Senate in the proposed
postal telegraph. 1t is probable that the
Senate will pass bill establishing postal
telegraph. 1t would be beaten, however,
in the House.